Vail, Colo., a beautiful summer destination

City not just a winter hotspot

June 21, 2009

Vail, Colo. has long been known as a winter destination for skiing, snowboarding and other wintertime activities. However, more and more people are discovering the beauty and activities of summertime in this village in the Rocky Mountains.

Long before any white men entered this mountain valley in the 19th century, the Ute Indians were enjoying the bounty of the area. It was a primary hunting ground and summer residence for them.

During the 1850s, George Gore, an Irishman and Jim Bridger, an American frontiersman, were some of the first to explore the mountains to the northeast of Vail. Bridger later returned to the area and named this mountain range after his friend Gore.

In the 1870s, gold and silver were discovered in the Gore Range. Men seeking their fortunes flocked to the area. They started mines and brought in the railroad. In the ensuing chaos, the Ute Indians were driven from their lands. Legend says that in retaliation, the Utes burned thousands of acres of timber. This allegedly created the Back Bowls now known to skiers worldwide.

In time, the gold and silver were depleted and interest in the Gore Range diminished. Peace returned to the area and lasted until 1939 when a highway that ran from Denver through the Gore Valley was constructed. The Vail Pass, and later the Village of Vail, was named after that project's engineer, Charlie Vail. The next period of activity for the area came during World War II.

If you travel for a short distance outside of Vail, you'll be able to see the camp where the 10th Mountain Division trained during World War II. The area was perfect for learning survival skills in snowy mountainous land. There is also a statue in honor of this brave division at one of the entrances to Vail Village. It is much larger than life-size and is a fitting memorial for the brave soldiers who fought and died with that division.

Pete Seibert was a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division and returned to the mountains and valleys of the area in which he had trained. In the '60s, he joined with two other veterans and a uranium prospector to create a resort dedicated to skiers.

The town of Vail, again named after the road builder, was created at the foot of Vail Mountain and the first gondola in the United States was built to carry skiers to the top. Restaurants, hotels and other businesses needed to support the fledgling resort community appeared. Vail was well on its way to becoming a top rate ski area.

The election of Gerald Ford as President of the United States in 1974 was a bonanza for Vail as he owned a house in the valley. Vail was now on the international map as a top ski resort.

In recent years, Vail has developed into a year round resort. Anyone who enjoys being outside will find something to do in Vail. The air is crisp and clear. The skies are an intense blue that we, on the east coast, only see on a very clear fall day.

Mountain biking is an extremely popular sport. For those who aren't accustomed to the altitude, you can take your bike to the top of the mountain on the Gondola and do all of your biking downhill. Helmets are required and it is possible to rent a bike at the top.

For the very fit, there is a beautiful ride over the Vail Pass to the little town of Frisco. The ride is 20 miles in one direction and at Vail Pass the altitude is 11,000 feet. We made the trip by car and were amazed at the people making the journey on bike. It really is a gorgeous ride whether you do it by car or bike. The road is narrow and rough so there's no danger that you'll speed along and miss the scenery.

Fishing is great in the area. One rushing mountain stream passes right through the town of Vail. Unfortunately, my husband and I were there during a drought which had diminished the flow tremendously but there were still fishermen trying their luck. In the lakes and streams in the area there are 4 different trout to be caught-rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook. If the fishing isn't too productive, you can always relax and enjoy the scenery.

Wildlife viewing is another favorite pastime in the area. Elk, mule deer, bald eagles and bighorn sheep are just some of the creatures that call the mountains and valley home.

During the summer, the Lionshead Gondola continues to run taking visitors and bikes from Vail (elevation 8120 feet) up to Adventure Ridge (elevation 10,360 feet). From there the view is spectacular. You can look down into the village, out to the rugged peaks of the Gore Range or off into the distance where the Back Bowls lie just beyond view. There are viewing platforms as well as a wedding deck for couples wishing to tie the knot on the mountain. You can sit on Adventure Ridge and enjoy a refreshing drink while watching the sunset or get active with horseshoes or hiking. There are also restaurants for indoor or outdoor dining. For the kids there is a sand pit laced with dinosaur bones and other artifacts. That seemed to be a popular spot when we were there. Of course, in the winter activities such as ice-skating and other winter appropriate sports are available at Adventure Ridge.

I'm certain it's beautiful in the wintertime with the snow-covered mountains, but I found Vail a great place to visit in the summer as well.